Icelandic Sheepdog: a sociable herder with a voice

Recognising the breed

FCI places the breed among Nordic watchdogs and herders. Both short and long coats are accepted, each with a dense undercoat. Well-developed double hind dewclaws are desirable. Their presence is a breed feature, not automatically a reason for removal.

Puppy photographs reveal little about the adult outline. Meet mature relatives and look at their build, coat length and movement. The long-coated variety is not a separate breed, and the shorter coat still requires attention when shedding. Choose a manageable adult dog rather than a particularly fluffy puppy photograph.

[1] FCI: Icelandic Sheepdog, standard 289

Company and family life

ISAA describes strong attachment to people and lists separation barking and chasing moving objects among difficulties reported by owners. These are individual observations, not a prediction that every puppy will behave identically.

Think through an ordinary working day. Practise resting apart while someone remains home before building up short departures. Children should leave sleeping dogs alone. Replace exciting chase games with finding a toy or simple cooperative tasks. A retreat where nobody follows the dog makes family life easier, especially when visitors and children increase the activity level.

[2] ISAA: temperament

Making barking manageable

Distinguish the triggers: a doorbell, anticipation of a walk, isolation or movement outside the fence. Repeating a prohibition does not teach an alternative. Doorbell practice can involve going to a mat; window barking may require screening the view and rewarding a return to the owner.

If bicycles trigger an outburst, begin far enough away for the dog to remain responsive. Do not test restraint beside fast traffic. In a garden, consider visibility through gates and time spent outside unsupervised. Space alone does not teach quiet behaviour, and rehearsing the same reaction can undermine training.

Exercise with a purpose

Build the day around exploratory walks, brief learning sessions and rest. Varied tasks are more useful than repeatedly exhausting the dog with a ball. Before taking up sport, assess physical readiness; demanding jumps should not be a puppy's introduction to activity.

Useful foundations include recall, waiting at doors, passing other animals calmly and willingly accepting equipment. Practise in a safe setting. Herding ancestry does not grant permission to release a dog among somebody else's livestock. Arrange any introduction with the animals' owner and a suitably experienced instructor, with welfare and control taking priority.

Coat and feet

The illustrated breed standard emphasises coat structure rather than length alone. When choosing a puppy, prioritise healthy skin and a realistic grooming routine over an exaggerated fluffy appearance.

After outings, check feet, behind the ears and areas beneath equipment. Inspect dewclaw nails separately, since ordinary nail clipping can overlook them. Divide brushing into short sessions and teach handling before it becomes necessary. Itchy skin, sores or bald patches call for investigation rather than harder brushing. Make sure the dog can stand securely during grooming and can take breaks before frustration develops.

[5] ISAA: illustrated standard

Health evidence to request

ISIC recommends an official known hip status and eye examinations for breeding dogs. ISAA provides information on reported conditions, including hip dysplasia and eye disease. A list of possible conditions does not establish an individual puppy's risk.

Request both parents' results with identification, dates and an explanation of findings. Ask about close relatives and causes of early deaths. The date of an eye examination matters: a puppy check is not equivalent to a current adult breeding examination. Verify which national scheme produced each result rather than assuming identical grading systems.

[3] ISIC: international breeding recommendations · [4] ISAA: health

Deciding whether it fits

This breed suits someone prepared to train regularly, manage the environment and accommodate a vocal dog. If your home requires near silence or the dog would routinely spend long periods without company, first meet adult dogs and reconsider expectations.

Ask a breeder to show ordinary life: a walk, returning indoors and settling after excitement. Recovery and the quality of upbringing tell you more about everyday compatibility than an impressive tricks video. Describe your actual routine honestly so the breeder can discuss a suitable individual rather than simply offering the next available puppy.